Electric railway-switch.



S. C, GURLBY.

H0 HODEL.

wwsmm,

UNITED STATES Patented September 6, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC RAiLWAY-SWiTCi-i.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,685, dated September 6, 1964. Application filed September 8, 1903. Serial No. 172,230. (No model.)

To all whont t may concern.-

Beit known that I, SCHUYLER C. GURLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented ncertain new and useful Improvements/in Electric Railway-Switches, of which the following specification is a description;

This invention relates to devices-for operating railway-switches generally, but particularly nos. of electric railways, and has for its object ready means for operating the switches by the motorman while the car is in motion and without leaving the car.

A further object is to provide a device that is comparatively inexpensive and applicable to the switches in general use without alteration.

A further object is to construct a device that is not liable to get out of order and that Ais thoroughly protected from the action of the elements and that may be operated by the electric current operating the cars or lights through the action of electromagnetism generated in the electric portion of my device.

With the foregoing objects in view I arrange and construct my device generally as described and set forth inthe following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a broken side elevation of the car and track and parts attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a broken top view of the switch, the track, the electroinagnet, and contactplates insulated from'the tracks and in position to meet the parts making and breaking electrical contact in the operation ofl my device. 3 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the electromagnetic parts of my device detached. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of one of two spring-pressed stems detached, in which are mounted adjustable contact-brushes carried on the car and adapted to be worked by the footl of the operator.

In the diiferent views 1 have shown similar a letters of reference represent similar parts,

and a a are two opposed electromagnetic ele ments supported in line that an armature having the Venlarged central portion b', presenting an enlarged area opposite the inner Fig.'

i ends of the armored coils` at all', which in addition to that of the entire length of the core or armature extending into the coils at 2 presen ts extensive breadth for the operation thereof by constructed as ordinary coils for primary action, but being also armored by iron casing surround ing the complete wire coil,thereby intensifying' the magnetic forces and field, greatly and thoroughly protecting the said coils `from water or dampness, the inner tube or shield a?" being preferably of brass and the armature at 2 within the latter said tube, that the air conined within the spaces fr* at cach end of the armature will provide a cushioning' effect to prevent severe hammering in the operation of my device. The annular spaces u are filled with the magnctizing-wire c and insu- `terminal ends c2 grounded with rail and atopposite ends c connected electrically with the contact-plates d 1], which are insulated properly from the earth and rails and adapted to be traversed by the brushes c and e c, carried on the car and mounted adjustably in the brush-stem a and secured therein at any height of adjustment by screw 2, said stem c beingsupported within the hollow standard e, preferably secured to thetloor of the carf by flanges e* in convenient reach of the foot of the operator, said stein being also provided with enlarged head and resting on a coiled spring c, in this case retaining `the brushstem and brush at such elevation when not in use that the brush does not come into contact with the electrodes d, as seen at e In the application of my device to ordinary switches the switclrpoin't g', which is movably mounted in the switcli-base in road-bed, is adapted to be moved laterally inthe pan of the switch, l cut a transverse slot r/L'in the bottom of said pan beneath and in range of the switch point or tongue g at a suitable point in its length and connect thereto an intervening bar b* at one end through said slot and connect said bar at its other end to the enlarged central portion of the armature. through slot c5 in the casing, binding the armored coils in place.

magnetic attraction, the solenoid or coil being preferably closely iilling the cylindrical space lated from the4 casing at all points-and at its In the operation of my device applied to a car and switches, as shown, the car being in motion approaching the electrodes'd in the direction ofthe arrow in Fig. 1, electric current is supplied from trolley or light-supply through terminal c3, there being two brush sets, one connect-ing with one of the electrodes d and one with the other, preferably so arranged that whentfie right brush is depressed the switch will be thrown that the car will be switched to the right, and when the left is depressed vice versa, the spaces at a* and 2f being oi' such length as to allow the armature suiicient end motion to move the switchtongue the required distance, the contactbrushes e being preferably of ordinary steel cable, which are durable and cheap.

It is evident that in the application ot' my device a number of variations may be resorted to without departing from my invention, and I desire it understood that I hold myself at liberty to apply it in all'such variations as fall fairly within the spirit and scope thereof, and

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In electric railway-switches two electromagnetic coils placed in opposition at a suitable distance apart and in axial line with each other, a magnetic metal armor or case surrounding the coils withinand without and providing a central opening within said coils open at inner adjacent ends and closed at outer ends, a binding-shield extending from the armor of one coil to the other inclosingv the intervening space and binding the coils together, an armature extending into the bore of both coils suitable allowance provided for longitudinal movement, an enlarged section on said armature at midway of its length adapted to be operated within said intervening space incased by said binding-shield, a longitudinal slot at top of saidshield, a switchpoint pivoted to operate in line with railwaytrack and means to connect between said armature to the enlarged section and said switch-point through said slot that said point may be actuated by said armature.

Q. In an electric switch, two independent electromagnetic coils, armored securely,closed at one end and open at the other and secured together by a binding-shield and having open ends projected centrally toward each other and having a suitable intervening space between them, an armature adapted to operate in common within the central opening of said coils, an enlarged section at a middle point on said armature adapted to be operated'within the space between the adjacent ends of said coils a switch-point pivoted to operate in the railway-track, means of connection between the enlarged middle section of said armature and said switch-point, electrodes placed between the railway-railselectrically connected with respective coils and electrical connection between said rails or other conductor and contact mechanism provided on-the cars oper-,

ating over said rails and provided with electric current from suitable source to operate said magnet and through it the said switchpoint as set forth. i 3. In an electric railway-switch a doublemembered electromagnet comprised of two coils open at one end and placed opposite and in axial line with open ends projected toward each other and bonded together by suitable means and providing an annular space between their inner ends, an armature linked by suitable means to the movable member of a switch nand providing an enlarged middle portion adapted to oscillate within said annular space and between` inner ends of the opposite members of said electromagnets, longitudinal central projections extending at each side axially from said middle portion of a diameter nearly equal to the bore of inner wall of said mag- ;nets, air-cushioning effect provided between outer ends of said armatureand said members proportionally as the diameter of the projections o'l" armature approach the size of. bore of magnet, whereby any desired compressionl may be provided toprevent injurious hammering, and means of electrical connection between said magnets and the car operatlng over said switch and between said magnets and the rails.

Signed atIndianapolis, Indiana, this 3d day of September, 1903.

scHUYLER c. Gunner.

Witnesses: y, I

MATTHEW H. CAMDEN, 'ALBERT E. Correr.. 

